It makes you wonder what the man saw in the faces of his family when they walked through the door. That's why it's a good story. I'm left to wonder.

"No one is dead," Marie wrote. The dog wasn't dead either when he arrived at the home. It was in a pitiable state and one would think his wife and children might be as well--not dead, but not far from being.

I really enjoyed this story. You did a wonderful job creating a tense, unsettling atmosphere, and I thought the conclusion was effective. I am very frightened for him. What are these gray shapeless people going to do to him? Your description of his family is a very eery, nuanced way to convey his psychology, his fear and alienation. The last line was wonderful--his anxiety over explaining the dog's death a stand-in for his anxiety over explaining his own absence. Thanks!